In this Friday’s Mirror Daily Digest, we’ve pulled together the biggest stories of the day from Donald Trump’s F-bomb about Elon Musk to the latest Easter travel chaos as 20 million people take to the road
17:17, 18 Apr 2025Updated 17:18, 18 Apr 2025
Nearly 20 million people will travel by car on Good Friday alone(Image: Getty Images)
Welcome to the Mirror’s Daily Digest, where we’ll be pulling together all the best stories of the day from our News, Showbiz, Politics teams and more. This Good Friday, we’re bringing you the top stories straight from the newsroom, with coverage on Donald Trump’s heated Elon Musk rant to the latest travel chaos as millions of Brits head off on their Bank Holiday breaks.
Our Showbiz team has been closely following David Beckham’s war with his neighbours over plans for a new barn at his Cotswolds retreat. Elsewhere, our News team reported that a hospital is urgently tracing patients and staff who came into contact with a person infected with mpox. We’ve also got the latest on the family of Captain Sir Tom Moore, who have been forced to slash the asking price of their country mansion for a second time.
Donald Trump and Elon Musk fallout confirmed
Trump reportedly dropped the F-bomb when speaking about Musk(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
This morning, our Politics team broke the news that Donald Trump dropped the F-bomb in a heated rant about Elon Musk. Amid mounting concerns over the Tesla boss’ business ties with Beijing, the President reacted angrily to the news of Musk attending a government meeting on China.
According to Axios, Trump told staff: “What the f**k is Elon doing there? Make sure he doesn’t go.” The contents of the meeting remain unknown, but Trump’s intervention comes at a critical moment in the ongoing trade war between the US and China.
While the President seemed happy to involve Musk in crucial government matters as a special employee, officials say this meeting crossed a line. One government official told Axios: “POTUS still very much loves Elon, but there are some red lines. Elon has a lot of business in China, and he has good relations there, and this briefing just wasn’t the right thing.”
David Beckham is facing a war with his neighbours of his rural retreat(Image: Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)
There’s never a dull moment for the Beckhams, and today is no different as David is at war with his neighbours over plans for a new barn at his rural Cotswolds retreat. Our Showbiz team has been exclusively covering the England legend’s fallout after seeking planning permission for the timber-clad structure at the £6m property.
He has asked planners at West Oxfordshire District Council for the right to create an “agricultural storage barn for hay/straw and agricultural equipment”. Meanwhile, angry villager Harriet Jones has told the council in a letter of objection: “This is just the latest in a long line of applications to build new structures on this land, plus a giant lake.
“Why do famous people move out to the country and then clutter up their land with endless buildings and make silly alterations? It makes no sense.” Planners will decide on the merits of the application in the coming weeks.
Easter travel chaos with strikes and station closures
Nearly 20 million people will travel by car on Good Friday alone(Image: Getty Images)
As millions of Brits head off on their Bank Holiday breaks, our News team has been working around the clock to cover the latest travel chaos, with major rail engineering works, strike action, heavy traffic and possible flooding. The live blog has been giving readers immediate updates on the disruption, as nearly 20 million people will travel by car on Good Friday alone.
Meanwhile, more than 300 engineering projects will be carried out by Network Rail across Britain between Good Friday and Easter Monday, prompting warnings for passengers to check their journeys in advance. At Gatwick Airport, more than 100 members of the Unite union who work for ground handling firm Red Handling are expected to strike across the weekend in a dispute over pensions and pay.
They include baggage handlers, check-in staff and flight dispatchers for airlines including Norwegian and Delta. And there are also warnings of potential flooding in the South West with drivers urged to take extra care in affected areas.
UK hospital urgently tracing anyone in contact with A&E patient with rare virus
Medical illustration of Monkeypox virus
In other news, a hospital is urgently trying to trace patients and staff who came into contact with a person infected with mpox after they showed up in A&E. Our News team covered the breaking story this afternoon, as health chiefs at Addenrbooke’s Hospital in Cambridge contacted around 30 patients and 20 members of staff whose contact with the infected individual put them at risk of infection.
A spokesperson for Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Addenbrooke’s, said: “We are in contact with around 30 patients and 20 staff as a precautionary measure after a patient with Mpox visited our emergency department on Saturday evening (12 April).
“The aim is to establish factors such as their proximity to the patient which, coupled with known factors like their age and vulnerability, helps determine whether they are offered a vaccine, or given advice around symptoms to look for and what to do. The UK Health Security Agency has been informed and the patient is now isolating at home and under the care of their GP.
“We would reassure patients who visited A&E on Saturday there is no need to contact us – we will contact them if we think there was any possibility of exposure.”
The home has had its price slashed for a second time as the family try to sell the mansion(Image: PA)
Finally, the Mirror revealed today that the family of Captain Sir Tom Moore has been forced to slash the asking price of their country mansion for a second time. The lockdown hero’s loved ones had tried to shift the sprawling seven-bed mansion for a whopping £2.25m using his name last year.
They strategically placed a photo of Captain Tom being knighted by the late Queen in 2020 in an online listing. But when it struggled on the market, they slashed £250,000 off the price.
Now, just three months later, they have cut another £50,000 in a desperate bid to offload it. A source said: “It’s a blow for the family who have been trying to sell the property for months.”
“Art Spiegelman is one of the most important cartoonists in the world working today. He tackled a subject that was enormous, and he established the medium as a serious literary form.”
That’s what Joe Sacco says of his fellow cartoonist in “Art Spiegelman: Disaster Is My Muse,” a new documentary that explores the career and legacy of the artist, editor and Pulitzer Prize-winning author of the acclaimed graphic novel “Maus.”
The “American Masters” title, which won the Metropolis Grand Jury Prize at the DOC NYC Festival in November, features archival footage and stills, illustrations and new interviews with Spiegelman, as well as insights from his family and contemporaries, including cartoonists Robert Crumb, Emil Ferris, Jerry Craft and Bill Griffith, writer-artist Molly Crabapple and author J. Hoberman.
A portion of the film sees Spiegelman deconstructing “Maus” — which was based on his father’s experiences as a Jewish immigrant and Holocaust survivor, as well as his own struggle to visualize it as an artist — and discussing its creation and impact alongside his wife, designer Françoise Mouly. Other sections recap his chapter as co-editor of comic magazines Arcade and Raw and revisit his most notable New Yorker covers.
The film premiered earlier this week on PBS and is streaming online and available via the PBS app through May 14. It is a galvanizing watch about the power of art as a medium for processing humanity’s most horrific events , and the lasting influence such brave creations will have for generations to come. I’m Ashley Lee, here with my fellow Times staff writer Jessica Gelt with more things to do and news to peruse.
Best bets: On our radar this week
Newsletter
You’re reading Essential Arts
Our critics and reporters guide you through events and happenings of L.A.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
Cover photo of “Re-visions” by Marcia Resnick (1978 and 2019), part of the Getty Center’s “What They Saw: Historical Photobooks by Women, 1843–1999.”
(Jeff Gutterman)
‘What They Saw: Historical Photobooks by Women, 1843–1999’ The Getty Center‘s interactive pop-up reading room highlights more than 100 photobooks and encourages visitors to hold the books, read and flip through pages. The exhibition includes a selection of contemporary photobooks by female Southern California photographers, including Catherine Opie, Uta Barth, Jo Ann Callis, Elena Dorfman, Rose-Lynn Fisher, Judy Fiskin and Soo Kim. It is on view through May 11; the Getty’s Central Garden will feature poetry inspired by the exhibition from Camae Ayewa (April 23) and Solange Aguilar (April 30). Getty Center, 1200 Getty Center Drive, Brentwood. getty.edu
‘The Totality of All Things’ Erik Gernand‘s play, which debuted in Chicago last year, explores the country’s growing divide through the lens of a hate crime at a small-town Indiana high school. The Road Theatre Company production is part of Reflections on Art and Democracy, a citywide celebration of plays, salons, lectures, and concerts that raise awareness about the rise of fascism and antisemitism, as well as the power of art and design to resist them. Directed by Taylor Nichols, this West Coast premiere runs through May 25; Saturday’s performance includes a talkback with the playwright. Road Theatre,10747 Magnolia Blvd., North Hollywood. roadtheatre.org
Janinah Burnett is performing at Boston Court Pasadena this weekend.
(Alexi Rosenfeld / Getty Images)
Janinah Burnett Boston Court Pasadena continues its Just Jazz Foundation Series with this one-night-only concert, featuring songs from the artist’s debut album, “Love the Color of Your Butterfly,” as well as hidden gems from various eras of American musical history. Of course, this set list will be delivered with “clazz” — her signature combination of numerous genres of music, including classical and jazz. Saturday, 8 p.m. Boston Court Pasadena, 70 N. Mentor Ave., Pasadena. bostoncourtpasadena.org
— Ashley Lee
The week ahead: A curated calendar
Philip Seymour Hoffman and Laura Linney in the 2007 movie “The Savages,” screening Monday at the Academy Museum.
(Andrew Schwartz / Fox Searchlight Pictures)
FRIDAY 🎸 AC/DC at the Rose Bowl The stalwart Australian rockers electrify the Arroyo Seco with their Power Up tour and opening act the Pretty Reckless. 7 p.m. Rose Bowl, 1001 Rose Bowl Drive, Pasadena. rosebowlstadium.com
📖 🎭 Dark Library: Paris 1925 Visit Gertude Stein’s apartment and mingle with such notable expats as Ernest Hemingway, Josephine Baker, F. Scott Fitzgerald and his wife, Zelda, via this intersection of multisensory mediums, including cocktails, dance and movement, and experiential design. 7 and 9 p.m. Friday-Saturday, through April 26. New Musicals Inc., 5628 Vineland Ave., North Hollywood. eventbrite.com
🎸 Graham Nash The singer-songwriter with the light tenor voice performs “More Evenings of Songs & Stories 2025,” including his solo work and as a member of the Hollies and Crosby, Stills & Nash (and sometimes Young). 8 p.m. Carpenter Performing Arts Center, 6200 E. Atherton St., Long Beach. carpenterarts.org
🎵 🎭 Shrek the Musical Jr. A benefit performance by middle school students with all donations going to help rebuild the Altadena Arts Magnet and Eliot Arts Magnet arts programs, which were severely affected by the Eaton fire. Admission is free but reservations are required. 7 p.m. Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. centertheatregroup.org
SATURDAY 🎤 Krush Groove Festival The Game, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Redman and Method Man are among the performers at the annual hip-hop festival presented by 93.5 KDAY. Kia Forum, 3900 W Manchester Blvd., Inglewood. 935kday.com
SUNDAY 📖 An Evening With Mark Hoppus The Blink-182 singer discusses his new memoir, “Fahrenheit-182.” 4 p.m. The Wiltern, 3790 Wilshire Blvd. wiltern.com
🎭 God’s Favorite James Rice directs Neil Simon’s 1974 comedy, loosely based on the biblical book of Job. Through May 3. Long Beach Playhouse Theatres, 5021 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach. lbplayhouse.org
🎞️ Something Mysterious: The Art of Philip Seymour Hoffman The Academy Museum’s tribute series to the late Oscar-winning actor continues this week with “Magnolia” (1999, 7:30 p.m. Sunday) and “The Savages” (2007, 7:30 p.m. Monday). Series continues through May 29. Academy Museum, 6067 Wilshire Blvd. academymuseum.org
Culture news and the SoCal scene
(Los Angeles Times photo illustration; photos by Adam Trunell / The Goodbye Line)
An art project called “The Goodbye Line”has been gaining steam — and users — in Southern California. Created by Adam Trunell and partner Alexis Wood, the interactive project consists of stickers placed on working payphones around the city, inviting passersby to call a free recorded line in order to say goodbye to something or someone. Trunell and Wood are posting these recordings online. The results are wildly varied, but almost always poignant.
Beloved Devo frontman and all-around uber creatorMark Mothersbaugh has finally opened his MutMuz Gallery to the public. For years Mothersbaugh had used the space on Chung King Road in Chinatown, but he never invited guests inside. First up: his debut solo show of paintings and screenprints, “Why Are We Here? No. 01.”
“Regency Girls,” a new musical comedy set in the era of Jane Austen, is making its pre-Broadway debut at the Old Globe in San Diego. Penned by TV writers Jennifer Crittenden and Gabrielle Allan, and directed and choreographed by Josh Rhodes, the show is “both genuinely funny and unabashedly silly,” writes Times theater critic Charles McNulty. Fans of “Pride and Prejudice” will likely savor the nonstop action, he speculates.
Enjoying this newsletter? Consider subscribing to the Los Angeles Times
Heidi Zuckerman at the construction site of the Orange County Museum of Art on May 13, 2021, in Costa Mesa.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Heidi Zuckermanwill step down from her role as CEO and director of the Orange County Museum of Art in December, the museum announced this week. Zuckerman has overseen an extraordinary period of growth during her tenure, including the 2022 grand opening of the museum’s new Thom Mayne, Morphosis Architects-designed home. Zuckerman is OCMA’s 13th director since its 1962 founding and will help the executive committee search for a successor. The museum noted that in the two years since opening its new building, more than 500,000 visitors have stepped through its doors — a number 12 times greater than attendance in the old location.
OCMA is not the only regional museum announcing a change in leadership. Adam Lerner, the executive director and CEO of Palm Springs Art Museum, announced this week that he decided not to renew his contract after four years at the helm of the institution. “The museum is now stronger, more inclusive, and more engaged than ever — and I’m especially proud of the outstanding executive team we’ve built to carry that momentum forward,” Lerner wrote in a message about his decision to museum members.
The 100th class of Guggenheim Fellows was announced this week and 16 L.A.-area honorees are among the 198 artists, scientists and more — across 53 disciplines — selected for the program. Writer-director-actor Miranda July is among the 2025 fellows, as is playwright Larissa Fasthorse, who is receiving funding in a new category for Indigenous Studies. “At a time when intellectual life is under attack, the Guggenheim Fellowship celebrates a century of support for the lives and work of visionary scientists, scholars, writers, and artists,” Edward Hirsch, poet and president of the Guggenheim Foundation, said in a news release. “We believe that these creative thinkers can take on the challenges we all face today and guide our society towards a better and more hopeful future.” The additional L.A.-area residents selected are Coleman Collins, UC Irvine, fine arts; Kyungmi Shin, fine arts; Raven Jackson, film/video; Mona Jarrahi, UCLA, engineering; Suk-Young Kim, UCLA, theater arts; Jingyi Jessica Li, UCLA, data science; Park Williams, UCLA, earth science; Mungo Thomson, film/video; Carolina Lithgow-Bertelloni, UCLA, earth science; Julie Tolentino, CalArts, fine arts; Carolyn Castaño, fine arts; Lauren Bon, Metabolic Studio, fine arts; Kerry Howley, general nonfiction; Emily Barker, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, fine arts.
Two-time Ulster Championship winner and BBC pundit Conor McManus explains why, despite a successful Division Two campaign, Monaghan must improve to take down All-Ireland contenders Donegal in Sunday’s provincial quarter-final.
As a player, big championship games in Clones were occasions I really relished and Sunday’s tussle with Donegal will be no different for the current Monaghan panel.
Monaghan have seen this game coming for a long time. There was always a good chance of Donegal getting past Derry in the preliminary round and now Jim McGuinness’ side are preparing for their first trip back to Clones since winning the Ulster title last year.
For Monaghan, the challenge is real. Monaghan were very good in Division Two and won it comfortably, but they haven’t played a team of Donegal’s quality this year.
It’s a huge step-up for Monaghan but it’s a home game in Clones, the sun will likely be shining. As a Monaghan player, there is no place you’d rather be.
Scoring has been Monaghan’s strength this year. It’s well-documented but they have been averaging about 28 or 29 points and I’d imagine Donegal will have a fairly rigid defensive plan to counteract that.
The important thing for Monaghan is maintaining a high level of performance for the 70 minutes. In the league, patches of great play and scoring bursts served them well, but they will need to find another level to topple Donegal.
An advertisement for Samyang Food’s Fire Noodle, also known as
Buldak, is displayed in New York’s Times Square. The campaign ran
late last year. Photo courtesy of Samyang Food
April 18 (UPI) — South Korea’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced earlier this month that the country’s first-quarter food exports surged 9.6% year-on-year to reach $2.48 billion.
With this pace, annual exports are highly likely to surpass $10 billion for the first time, beating the previous record of $9.98 billion last year.
“This year’s food exports hit a record high for the first quarter. The growth is expected to continue throughout 2025,” Deputy Agriculture Minister Kang Hyoung-seok told UPI. “To deal with some external risks, the Korean government will work as one team with our exporters.”
Supporting the success of Korean foods are such unique brands as Fire Noodle of Samyang Food, Bibigo of CJ Group, and Choco Pie of Orion.
Fire Noodle, also known as Buldak, single-handedly carried Samyang Food over the past few years as it has become a food phenomenon.
Launched in 2012, Fire Noodle was originally regarded as a niche Korean product. But its bold, intensely spicy flavor is now a global sensation.
Boosting its popularity has been the Fire Noodle Challenge, a viral trend where participants eat the ultra-spicy noodles as fast as they can, often without drinking water.
Originating on YouTube in the middle of the 2010s, the challenge exploded across the world, thanks to its intense heat, humorous facial expressions, and dramatic coughing fits.
Last year, the brand faced a crisis as the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration issued a recall of three Fire Noodle products, citing potential health risks posed by their high capsaicin content. Capsaicin is the chemical compound in chili peppers that creates a burning sensation.
However, the measure was a blessing in disguise for Samyang Food, which was established in 1961 to roll out Korea’s first instant noodle products.
“The recall piqued the curiosity of people about Fire Noodle products. It actually helped drive sales,” a Samyang Food spokesperson said in a phone interview. “In addition, members of K-pop groups also contributed to its rising profile.”
BTS member Jimin and Blackpink’s Rose are known to be big fans of Fire Noodle products.
The brand’s success underpinned Samyang Food’s performance in 2024 when its global sales soared 65% over the previous year. As a result, exports accounted for 77% of total revenue and the proportion is projected to hit 85% this year.
The corporation is also performing well in the stock market as its share price jumped more than 26% on the Seoul bourse in 2025. Its market capitalization approaches $5 billion.
“Exports are predicted to sustain the company’s growth, with first-quarter outbound shipments estimated to have increased over 40%,” Yuanta Securities analyst Son Hyun-jeong said.
Other notable Korean food names are Bibigo and Choco Pie.
Based on the brisk sales of its Bibigo line, including steamed dumplings, white rice, and kimchi, CJ Cheiljedang’s international sales neared $4 billion last year.
Orion sold 4 billion units of its signature product Choco Pie, its marshmallow-filled snack, in 2024. Riding on that momentum, the company disclosed a $585 million investment Tuesday to expand its overseas business.
However, there are downside risks such as rising trade tensions and uncertainty as the Trump administration threatens to levy high tariffs on imports to the United States.
“Most Korean food exporters manufacture here and one of their biggest markets is the U.S.,” Seoul-based business tracker Leaders Index CEO Park Ju-gun said in a phone interview.
“If higher tariffs are imposed, it would weigh on their sales in the American market. They have to prepare for these uncertainties,” he said.
Two people were killed and at least six others wounded during a mass shooting at Florida State University (FSU) on Thursday, according to investigators in the United States.
Here is what we know so far about the suspect, victims and the investigation into the incident:
What happened at Florida State University?
A gunman opened fire outside the student union at FSU close to lunchtime on Thursday at 11:50am Eastern Time (15:50 GMT).
Upon hearing gunshots, students and parents scrambled to escape and seek shelter in a bowling alley and freight lift inside the student union.
The university promptly issued an active shooter alert. Soon after, Florida State’s alert system announced that law enforcement had neutralised the threat.
Where did the FSU shooting take place?
The shooting took place outside the student union on the main FSU campus, which is in Tallahassee, Florida, close to the state’s Capitol building.
More than 42,000 students are enrolled at FSU’s main campus.
Tallahassee, the capital of Florida, is about 350km (220 miles) northwest of Orlando.
What do we know about the alleged attacker and weapons?
Leon County Sheriff Walter McNeil has identified the gunman as 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, the son of a Leon County sheriff’s deputy. His mother, named by US media as Jessica Ikner, has served at the sheriff’s department for 18 years, McNeil said.
Phoenix Ikner is an FSU student, Jason Trumbower, chief of the university’s police force said during a news conference on Thursday.
He had access to his mother’s handgun which was once a service weapon but was now a personal firearm. “Unfortunately, her son had access to one of her weapons that was found at the scene,” McNeil said during the news conference.
Besides the handgun, authorities believe that Ikner brought a shotgun to campus. It is unclear whether this shotgun was used in the shooting. Trumbower said there is no evidence that anyone was shot with a shotgun.
FSU business management student Aidan Stickney, 21, said he saw a man get out of a car with a shotgun, aiming it at another man, The Associated Press news agency reported. The gun jammed and the attacker ran back to his car before returning with a handgun, opening fire on a woman, said Stickney, who said he ran from the scene and warned others.
When the alleged attacker refused to surrender, the police shot him and took him into custody.
Authorities have not yet speculated on or revealed the attacker’s motive.
What do we know about the victims?
The identities of the victims are not known.
The two people who have died were not students of the university, said Trumbower.
Five people were injured by gunfire while a sixth was injured while trying to run away.
The injured victims are being treated at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital. This is also where the attacker is being treated. The extent of the victims’ or the attacker’s injuries is not known. A statement released by the hospital says: “At this time, details are still unfolding, and we do not yet have specific information to share.”
What have been the reactions to this incident?
US President Donald Trump said he had been briefed on the incident at FSU while speaking to reporters at the Oval Office. “It’s a horrible thing. It’s horrible that things like this take place,” he said.
However, he did suggest he will not back new legislation on guns. “The gun doesn’t do the shooting, the people do,” said Trump.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis responded to the shooting in a series of posts and a video posted on X. “Our prayers are with our FSU family and state law enforcement is actively responding,” he wrote.
All classes on the FSU main campus for Thursday and Friday were cancelled.
How many shootings have taken place in the US so far this year?
There have been 81 mass shootings in the US in 2025 so far, according to not-for-profit website Gun Violence Archive. This includes the FSU shooting on Thursday.
In January, a 17-year-old suspect shot and killed a female high school student in Nashville, Tennessee, before killing himself, law enforcement officials said.
The Thursday shooting was the second shooting at FSU in 11 years. In 2014, a graduate opened fire at the main library, wounding two students and an employee. The gunman was shot and killed by the police.
What are the gun laws in the US?
The right to buy and carry a gun is guaranteed in the US Constitution.
The Second Amendment of the US Constitution states: “A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
In 2022, former US President Joe Biden signed into law the first major federal gun reform in three decades. This bipartisan bill strengthened background checks for the youngest gun buyers and helped states introduce laws that make it easier for authorities to seize guns from people believed to be dangerous.
However, rules of gun ownership vary depending on the state.
Florida, for example, was notorious for having relaxed gun laws until 2018, when the state passed strong gun laws following a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. The new laws created extreme risk protection orders, which restrict gun access from people believed to be dangerous. They also raised the minimum age for purchasing guns to 21.
Will gun laws be tightened in the US?
This is a highly contested subject. About 58 percent of American adults favour stricter gun laws, according to a report by the Pew Research Center, published in July 2024.
Samantha Barrios, the Florida State Director at gun violence prevention organisation GIFFORDS, said in a statement: “Florida Governor Ron DeSantis offered his prayers to the students and faculty at FSU, but prayers are not enough. It’s time for real action. It’s time to close loopholes and pass gun safety laws that we know work, not repeal the bipartisan measures Floridians implemented after Parkland.” GIFFORDS is led by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.
However, legislators have been reluctant to make any significant changes. Furthermore, on February 7, Trump signed an executive order “to end the federal government’s violation” of the Second Amendment and Americans’ right to protect themselves and their families.
This order seeks to “dismantle gun control”, repealing measures taken by the Biden administration to regulate firearm use.
Besides the bipartisan bill Biden signed in 2022, he introduced other gun control measures. In April 2024, Biden introduced a rule requiring online gun sellers or people who sell firearms at gun shows to conduct background checks on their customers. In September 2024, he signed an executive order establishing a task force to crack down on machine-gun conversion devices and unserialised, 3D-printed guns.
“President Trump’s executive order could reopen the untraceable ghost gun market and undermine actions to protect Americans from gun trafficking and violent crime,” a statement by Brady United, a nonprofit organisation against gun violence, said.
While some organisations advocate for regulation of gun use, others lobby against it.
The National Rifle Association (NRA) started as a recreational group for rifle shooting in 1871, but has burgeoned into a political organisation campaigning against gun control. An article by the NRA says gun control places limits on the freedom guaranteed by the Second Amendment.
The NRA’s argument is: “Criminals, by definition, do not obey the law. Gun control laws only affect law-abiding people who go through legal avenues to obtain firearms.”
Midsomer Murders star Jason Hughes plays a key role in tonight’s episode of Beyond Paradise, where he plays the father of
15:23, 18 Apr 2025Updated 15:23, 18 Apr 2025
Jason Hughes will be known for his role on Midsomer Murders(Image: (Image: ITV))
Midsomer Murders actor Jason Hughes is in tonight’s episode of Beyond Paradise. Fans of detective dramas will know Jason for his role as Sergeant Ben Jones in the ITV series Midsomer Murders.
During his time on the show, Ben was a key part of the police team including starring alongside both John Nettles and Neil Dudgeon and fans will know him for his nearly 10 year stint on the ITV detective show.
However, he is now swapping Midsomer Murders for a new role in the spin-off of Death In Paradise, where he plays Polly’s father Hugo. A description of tonight’s episode reveals: “On the final day of the regatta, rival sailors Francine and Polly are neck and neck for the top spot. However, disaster strikes when Polly collapses and plunges into the sea, throwing the entire race into chaos.
Jason plays Hugo in the new episode of Beyond Paradise(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Red Planet Pictures/Joss Barratt )
“When it’s discovered that Polly’s smoothie had been tampered with, all eyes turn to Martha, the smoothie-maker, who finds herself in the spotlight as an unlikely prime suspect. She and Humphrey, already juggling the demands of work and childcare, struggle to stay composed under this new pressure.”
Martha (Sally Bretton) finds herself embroiled in the latest case – and is even interviewed by Humphrey.
“Martha is not exactly thrilled about being dragged into one of Humphrey’s investigations, especially because she’s already juggling so much. She is running a coffee van at a regatta, looking after Rosie, and suddenly finds herself being formally interviewed by Humphrey at the police station over a poisoning case. It’s a bit much for her and, honestly, she’s irritated by the whole thing,” she said.
The police team deal with a new case tonight(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Red Planet Pictures/Joss Barratt )
“I remember reading the script for that scene and actually laughing out loud – Martha’s frustration really came through. It’s a fun and intense moment and you get to see a different side of her.”
As well as being involved in cases and running her business, Martha and Humphrey are also juggling fostering young Rosie.
“The balancing act is challenging. On paper, Martha was supposed to be the primary carer, especially with Humphrey’s work commitments, but she ends up taking on a lot more than expected,” Sally explained.
“She is managing her business, looking after Rosie, and trying to keep everything in order – it’s a lot. But despite the struggles, they both fall in love with Rosie, and it becomes a deeply rewarding experience for them. They go through a whole range of emotions but in the end it’s something they’ll always look back on as a very special chapter in their lives.”
Celebrity Big Brother viewers brand housemate a ‘game player’ after spotting three clues – and it’s not who you think
According to the bookies, Daley’s the red-hot favourite to go at 1/5, while Patty’s sitting at 10/3, so she’s the underdog in this showdown.
On April 10, 2025, Big Brother announced three special powers which have been secretly wielded by housemates.
Gathering the celebs by the sofas, Big Brother reveals: “Housemates. It’s time to nominate. Big Brother can reveal three game-changing powers that have been wielded in secret.
“One Housemate received the power of immunity and is now safe from the first eviction. The Housemate is Chris.”
“One Housemate used the Guardian Angel power to grant immunity to another Housemate from the first eviction — Daley.”
“One Housemate had the Killer Nomination power and could choose one Housemate to face the first eviction. The Housemate chose Mickey.”
When is the next CBB eviction?
Another live eviction is on the cards for Friday, 18th April 2025.
The episode’s set to kick off at 9pm and will run for about 90 minutes, ad breaks included.
That makes it one of the longer episodes we’ve seen this series.
The live specials, like the launch night on 7th April and the evictions, usually run a bit longer than the regular ones.
Hi, and welcome to another edition of Dodgers Dugout. My name is Houston Mitchell. I hope everyone was as excited for the season finale of “Matlock” as I was.
Newsletter
Are you a true-blue fan?
Get our Dodgers Dugout newsletter for insights, news and much more.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
Great news. The Dodgers have the second-best record in all of baseball. Let’s take a look at the top teams:
1. San Diego, 15-4, .789 (on pace to win 128 games) 2. Dodgers, 14-6, .700 (113) 3. San Francisco, 13-6, .684 (111) 4. Arizona, 12-7, .632 (102) 4. New York Mets, 12-7, .632 (102) 4. Texas, 12-7, .632 (102) 4. New York Yankees, 12-7, .632 (102)
Just look. The third-best record in baseball and third place in their division, with the fourth-place team in the NL West right behind them. So, with the Dodgers, Padres and Giants all on on pace to win more than 100 games (they won’t all do that), let’s compare the three teams at each position, just so we can get a sense of the Dodgers’ closest rivals. So as to not overload everyone with stats, we will focus on just the offenses this time around, looking at the pitchers later.
Catcher Dodgers, Will Smith 2025: .367/.475/.551 (198 OPS) Career: .261/.353/.474 (126)
Padres, Elias Diaz 2025: .206/.341/.235 (69) Career: .251/.304/.386 (82)
Giants, Patrick Bailey 2025: .184/.259/.306 (66) Career: .231/.289/.346 (80)
The Dodgers have the clear edge at catcher.
First base Dodgers, Freddie Freeman 2025: .333/.412/.733 (225) Career: .300/.387/.512 (142)
Padres, Luis Arráez 2025: .275/.306/.388 (97) Career: .322/.370/.418 (118)
Giants, LaMonte Wade Jr. 2025: .102/.224/.265 (44) Career: .241/.347/.406 (111)
Arráez has won the batting title the last three seasons, one in the AL, the last two in the NL. Wade is basically James Loney. Again the Dodgers have the clear edge here..
Second base Dodgers, Tommy Edman 2025: .263/.305/.553 (143) Career: .264/.317/.413 (101)
Jake Cronenworth is currently on the IL with a rib fracture but is expected back next week. Fitzgerald and Edman are pretty even, but Tommy Edman is the more dynamic player.
Third base Dodgers, Max Muncy 2025: .193/.309/.263 (69) Career: .227/.350/.471 (122)
Giants, Matt Chapman 2025: .239/.386/.418 (129) Career: .241/.329/.460 (118)
While it’s true that, as Yogi Berra said in the 50s, “Nobody likes Manny Machado,” he’s a heck of a ballplayer and gives the Padres the clear edge at third, especially when you factor in defense.
Jason Heyward is one of those guys you root for no matter where he is playing, except when he’s playing the Dodgers. Michael Conforto is the best of a decidedly average group.
Center field Dodgers, Andy Pages 2025: .175/.299/.298 (75) Career: .237/.303/.393 (98)
Padres, Jackson Merrill 2025: .378/.415/.676 (206) Career: .298/.332/.511 (133)
Giants, Jung Hoo Lee 2025: .348/.403/.652 (203) Career: .284/338/.428 (121)
Lee came from Japan last season. If he has made some real progress at the plate, then the Giants could have the edge here, but it’s far too soon to tell if his progress is real. Jackson Merrill is very good. And the Dodgers will need Pages to start hitting soon or find someone else. Dave Roberts said he would give Andy Pages about 150 plate appearances.
Right field Dodgers, Teoscar Hernández 2025: .265/.292/.529 (133) Career: .263/.320/.489 (122)
Padres, Fernando Tatis Jr. 2025: .348/.425/.623 (195) Career: .282/.353/.537 (142)
Giants, Mike Yastrzemski 2025: .302/.439/.566 (197) Career: .240/.324/.459 (115)
As much as we like Teoscar Hernández, Fernando Tatis Jr. is better. Mike Yastrzemski seems to have rebounded after an off season. And, in an extremely trivial note, I once won a baseball trivia quiz by correctly spelling Yastrzemski, of course, that was Carl, Mike’s Hall of Fame grandfather.
The Padres’ other DH is Yuli Gurriel, as they seem to excel at acquiring players Dodgers fans don’t like. Shohei Ohtani gives the Dodgers a big advantage here.
Just looking at the offense, the Dodgers and Padres seem much better than the Giants. The Giants are hitting worse overall than the Dodgers this season in many categories, but are averaging almost one run more per game thanks to a lot of timely hitting.
All three teams are playing well. Once the NL West teams start playing each other, we should get some separation in the standings as at least one of these teams will have to cool off.
And don’t forget Arizona, who is lurking and waiting to pounce. It should be an exciting NL West race this season, which will make the year a lot more interesting. I’d rather have a close race than one where the Dodgers win by 14 games.
Get well, Manny Mota
Dodgers legend Manny Mota, still for my money the best pinch-hitter in history, is recovering from a stroke.
His son, Dodgers broadcaster José Mota, told ESPN Deportes on Tuesday that his “dad never lost consciousness during the incident and is currently doing well. He’s alert and responding. We’ll see the results of removing the clot. At his age, it’s difficult to predict, but we hope he can recover all his functions.”
When Mota, 82, retired, he had the career record for pinch hits with 150. From 1974-79 he served mainly as a pinch-hitter with the Dodgers and had these averages: .281, .265, .288, .395, .303, .357. He came out of retirement near the end of the 1980 season and went three for seven as a pinch-hitter. That was back in the day when you had one player on the bench who really just pinch-hit. For a couple of season, the Dodgers had two guys who just pinch-hit: Mota and Vic Davalillo.
What is often overlooked when discussing Mota was he was a good player before he became a pinch-hitter. As a regular player with the Dodgers from 1969-73, he hit .315 and was an All-Star in 1973. In a 20 season major league career, he hit .304.
All-time pinch-hit leaders:
Lenny Harris, 212 Mark Sweeney, 175 Manny Mota, 150 Smoky Burgess, 144 Greg Gross, 143 Dave Hansen, 139 John Vander Wal, 126 José Morales, 123 Orlando Palmeiro, 120 Red Lucas, 117
Kershaw returning soon?
Clayton Kershaw made his first rehab start of the season, pitching three scoreless innings for triple-A Oklahoma City on Wednesday, giving up two hits and striking out two.
Kershaw’s velocity was a bit down, but he still needs to build some arm strength.
“I think any time with rehab you want to feel healthy, which I do feel good today,” Kershaw said after the game. “Then you want to see your stuff — obviously — play. There’s some things that I need to work on still, but for the first [rehab appearance] overall, it was a good step forward.”
If all progresses according to schedule, Kershaw would rejoin the Dodgers in mid to late May.
“I could feel it evolving from a team-oriented game to an individual-oriented game,” he said. “I did not play well when I played for myself. If it wasn’t a team-oriented game, I really was not much value. So I decided this was a good time to get out.”
Parker won six straight Gold Gloves and has to be in the argument when deciding the greatest fielding first baseman of all time.
My first exposure to him was when he guest starred in “The Brady Bunch.”
“When I go out and talk to kids, more of them by far knew me from my appearance on ‘The Brady Bunch’ than my entire career,” Parker said. “Of course they weren’t alive when I was playing.”
We received 16,710 votes our annual poll on how you think the Dodgers will do. Will they win the World Series? Reach the NLCS and lose? Click here to vote.
Results
They will win the World Series, 79.8% They will reach the NLCS but lose there, 10% They will lose in the World Series, 7.1% They will reach the NLDS but lose there, 2.8% They will not make the postseason, 0.2% They will lose in the wild-card round, 0.1%
Last season’s results:
They will reach the NLCS but lose there, 42.6% They will win the World Series, 29.3% They will reach the NLDS but lose there, 16.2% They will lose in the World Series, 9.6% They will lose in the wild-card round, 2.1% They will not make the postseason, 0.2%
Can BRICS countries challenge the US? Redi Tlhabi speaks with historian and journalist Vijay Prashad.
Amid escalating global instability and a fractured Western alliance, nations in the Global South are reassessing their geopolitical alignments and economic strategies. The BRICS bloc, which includes Russia, Brazil, India, China, South Africa and other emerging economies, has emerged as a counterweight to the US-dominated financial order.
So, can BRICS countries fulfil its potential as a significant force in a multipolar world?
This week on UpFront, Redi Tlhabi speaks with historian and journalist Vijay Prashad.
Redi Tlhabi speaks with Professor Michele Goodwin about the current state and future of reproductive rights in the US.
As Donald Trump begins his second term as president, headlines focus on immigration, trade and free speech. But advocates warn of another front, a quieter campaign targeting reproductive rights and abortion.
Just years after the fall of Roe v Wade, critics say new policies signal a renewed push to erode reproductive freedom, especially for women of colour.
Is the Trump administration waging a quiet war on reproductive rights in the United States?
This week on UpFront, Redi Tlhabi speaks with Michele Goodwin, professor of constitutional law and global health policy at Georgetown University and author of Policing The Womb: Invisible Women and the Criminalization of Motherhood.
FUMING locals have blasted nudists who openly have sex on a popular UK holiday beach.
Disgruntled residents have slammed beachgoers who strip off at Corton beach, near Lowestoft in Suffolk.
8
Locals say their picturesque beach is being ruined by nudistsCredit: Jason Bye
8
Fuming residents claim people openly have sex on the beachCredit: Jason Bye
8
The Azure Seas village has more than 100 holiday and permanent cabins and homes which cost up to £200,000Credit: Jason Bye
An official warning sign was put up just weeks ago on the sands but has since been mysteriously taken down.
The holiday hotspot fronts a retirement village – but people living there say they are fed-up.
Local Steve Shepherd, 68, a retired newspaper executive, told The Sun: “It’s no longer safe to take children there to play on their beach.
“It started about three years ago and has got worse every year since since – I was with my two and three-year-old grandchildren last summer and there were naked men deliberately showing off and flaunting themselves.
“It is so offensive that we can no longer take our grandchildren to play on the beach. Unfortunately the beach is now getting a reputation – and becoming famous – so the problem will only get worse.
“Apart from the holidaymakers here there are people who live her all the time and now in the summer they can’t go down to the sea.”
The Azure Seas village, which has more than 100 holiday and permanent cabins and homes which cost up to £200,000, is set in 15 acres of woodland on the cliffs overlooking the controversial beach and has its own direct access to the sea.
Sales manager Duncan Gooch said: ”It’s got nothing to do with nudity what so ever – it is the behaviour of some who go there, a group who think it is OK to indulge in lewd and sexual behaviour on the beach, openly in front of other people.
“It is blatant and deliberate – some are clearly exhibitionists and we take offence – as does everyone living or staying here – at their behaviour.
“Things have got worse over recent so year and are now so bad that a lot of people simply won’t go onto the beach because it is full of naked exhibitionists parading up and down and having sex.
“We have complained to the police and they say they will look into it.
“But they told us there was nothing we could do about it. Callers who complain are simply give a reference number.
“We have 100 holiday and permanent homes here but this perverted sexual activity – which goes on from dawn until after dusk – is not what they want to see.”
The controversial notice warned: ”Corton Beach is not a naturist beach. Lewd behaviour will not be tolerated and may be recorded by CCTV and reported to the police.
8
A controversial warning sign was taken downCredit: Jason Bye
8
The beach fronts a retirement village and is popular with visitors who prefer to remain clothedCredit: Jason Bye
8
Some locals, who are not naturalists, say they have been put off visiting the areaCredit: Jason Bye
“Causing an offence to others is a criminal offence and all cases will be reported form prosecution. By order of Corton Parish Council.”
The parish council say they put up the sign after numerous complaints from local people about indecent behaviour on the beach, including individuals openly engaging in sexual acts and walkers being accosted.
A parish council spokesman said: “Businesses overlooking the beach have also been severely impacted, reporting substantial financial losses directly attributed to these behaviours.
“The parish council is obligated to support and protect the parishioners and businesses within its jurisdiction.
“This is our fundamental responsibility, and the sign was intended to serve as a warning that engaging in such acts would be reported to the police.
“This stance remains unchanged.“
A spokesman for the council said: ”The sign stated that the beach was not a naturist beach and was intended to clarify that it is no longer a designated as such since nudism can be practiced anywhere.
“The council recognises that nudism is a legal activity and was not attempting to prohibit, outlaw, or prevent naturists from enjoying the beach and we don’t intend to imply that naturists were responsible for this behaviour in any way.
“The sign was a warning to individuals whose lewd activities were causing distress to other beach-goers but we do not intend to imply or suggest that naturists were responsible for this behaviour in any way.”
District councillor Paul Ashdown added: “Most people are aware that sunbathing in the nude on the beach is not illegal but some residents have witnessed lewd behaviour which is offensive and should not be conducted in a public space.
“It would be good to discourage this sort of behaviour so I understand the purpose of the sign – but I have no idea who might have taken it down.
“I have now asked the council leader asking for help to resolve this issue.”
An East Suffolk council spokesman said: ”We had requested removal of a sign placed without relevant permission on a signpost on East Suffolk Council land.
“The parish council has informed us that the sign had been removed without its knowledge over the weekend.”
Local authorities, they added, need to do more to tackle the constant stench of marijuana in the air, and help tackle the increasing incidents of anti-social behaviour.
Dozens of naturists flock to the sand dunes on sunny days to enjoy sunbathing and swimming without clothes.
Yet the area has more recently been plagued by “sad, middle-aged men getting up to no good”.
Stuart Haylock, 50, who lives near Maidstone, claimed he has seen “shocking” things over the last few weeks – as he put up a fence close to the beach.
The former Royal Navy serviceman said: “Sadly some parts of society seem to think that because it’s a naturist area it should be treated like a porn set.
“What I’ve witnessed in the past couple of weeks is sad, lonely middle-aged men getting up to no good.
“I’ve spoken with some of the actual naturists and they’re lovely people. What they’re trying to do is just sunbathe naked without any interaction with perverts.
“But I can only tell you what I’ve physically seen in the last few days. It’s shocking.”
Another man, who did not want to be named but lives close to the beach said he has called the police “a number of times”.
He said: “These perverts have been using the area for sex.
“There could be kids coming round here but they don’t care. Many of them don’t just stay for a few hours either, they park up in the nearby car park and stay for a week.
“The actual naturists themselves tend to be alright. They’ve put some signs up now as we did used to have a problem with them staying in their area, but now it’s okay.”
8
A police van stationed at the seaside resortCredit: Jason Bye
8
The council claimed shorefront businesses have suffered as a result of the nudismCredit: Jason Bye
April 18 (UPI) — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Friday that the Russian invasion of Ukraine is “not our war” and that if it’s not possible to reach a peace deal within days “we’re done.”
Rubio said the United States needs to determine very quickly — in a matter of days — whether or not ending the war “is doable” over the next few weeks.
“If it’s not possible — if we’re so far apart that this is not going to happen,” Rubio said, ” Then I think the president’s probably at a point where he’s going to say, well, we’re done.”
“I think it’s important to remind everybody that the Ukraine war is a terrible thing, but it’s not our war. We didn’t start it. The United States has been helping Ukraine for over the last three years, and we want it to end. But it’s not our war.”
Rubio did not spell out whether his comments mean the United States will also be done with supporting Ukraine as it defends against the Russian invasion and occupation.
“We’ve spent three years, billions of dollars supporting the Ukrainian side, and — but now we’ve reached the point where we have other things we have to focus on,” Rubio said. “We’re prepared to be engaged in this as long as it takes, but not indefinitely, not without progress. If this is not possible, we’re going to need to move on.”
U.S. and Ukrainian officials, including Rubio, met Thursday in Paris for talks on the war as Russia continued to attack Ukraine.
Rubio told reporters Friday that “we had positive meetings yesterday.”
He said he thought the French, the British and Germans were “very constructive, very helpful.”
He said there will hopefully be another meeting next week “where we’ll have some more definitive answers about how close we are to actually making progress.”
Ukrainian Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenkor said on X Thursday that progress was made toward a minerals deal with the United States.
“We are happy to announce the signing, with our American partners, of a Memorandum of Intent, which paves the way for an Economic Partnership Agreement and the establishment of the Investment Fund for the Reconstruction of Ukraine,” she said.
She said there has been significant progress on details of the deal indicating the final deal “will be very beneficial to both countries.”
The two countries intend to finalize the deal as soon as April 26.
The Chair of Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada parliament said on X that Trump administration special envoy Steve Witkoff “may be inadvertently trying to push pro-Russian narratives” during the peace talks.
The Trump administration has made overtures to Russia while criticizing Ukraine in the peace talk process.
Responding to reporter questions, Rubio said if progress toward peace is being made the United States is prepared to engage as long as it takes but won’t be involved indefinitely without progress.
He said he spoke with Russian foreign minister Lavrov and told him that the United States proposed an outline for peace to Ukraine but didn’t specify to Lavrov what the outline details were.
We discuss the dangers of falling in love online and how technology is used to deceive and steal from victims.
The world of online romance scams is a dark and increasingly prevalent phenomenon, thriving on digital platforms where scammers exploit the search for love. These scams often involve emotional manipulation and blackmail, and can lead to significant financial devastation for victims.
Dating apps, social media platforms and websites have become common spaces for people to connect with potential partners, but they also serve as prime hunting grounds for scammers.
Presenter: Anelise Borges
Guests: Cecilie Fjellhoy – Co-Founder, Lovesaid Rohan Mer – Scam Prevention Technology Expert Helmi Korhonen – Romance Scam Recovery Project
What happens when the political satire of “South Park” collides with a Muslim kid’s coming-of-age story in post-9/11 New Jersey? You get the animated sitcom “#1 Happy Family USA.”
Cocreated and coshowrun by Ramy Youssef and Pam Brady, the A24 production, which premieres Thursday on Prime Video, follows Rumi Hussein (voiced by Youssef) and his family as they navigate the “see something, say something” paranoia of the early 2000s.
The semi-autobiographical story of Egyptian American comedian, actor and director Youssef is at the center of this period comedy where Michael Jordan, music piracy and Britney Spears still dominate the news. Everything is normal in 12-year-old Rumi’s world on Sept. 10. He’s crushing on his teacher Mrs. Malcolm (voiced by Mandy Moore — who happened to rise to fame in the 2000s). He’s tolerating the cluelessness of his Egyptian immigrant parents, father Hussein (also voiced by Youssef) and mother Sharia (Salma Hindy). He’s fighting with his oh-so-perfect/closeted sister, Mona (Alia Shawkat). His devout grandparents also live at home, always on hand to make whatever Rumi’s doing feel haram.
But within 24 hours, the Al Qaeda attacks turn the Husseins from an average dysfunctional family with unfortunate names into a suspected terror cell.
“#1 Happy Family USA” follows a Muslim boy’s coming-of-age story.
(Prime Video)
Rumi’s father, a doctor turned halal cart owner, goes into assimilation overdrive to prove his family is 110% American and absolutely not associated with anyone named Osama. Old Glory, Christmas decor and Easter trimmings suddenly pop up in their front yard. He shaves his beard off. He insists that his wife stop wearing her hijab, which makes Sharia, who is a receptionist for an eccentric dentist (Kieran Culkin), all the more determined to don her headscarf.
Meanwhile, Rumi’s classmates now eye him suspiciously despite his attempts to fit in with the other boys by wearing his new basketball jersey. But the bootleg “Bulls” shirt reads “Balls” instead. It’s also three sizes too big and looks like a dress. Clearly he’s not like the others.
Elements of the storyline mirror Youssef’s childhood montages in his Hulu series “Ramy,” but the medium of adult animation allowed him to “go wild” with the story and characters. He also got to work with Brady, an authority on pushing animated satire to hilarious extremes.
“Animation became the vehicle for how this idea should live. I wanted to look at a wholly unexplored period outside of the lens of a cop drama or the news … and go to the wildest extremes with premises,” said Youssef. “I definitely had the desire to make something stupid in a really great, sophisticated and almost Commedia dell’arte way. Just dumb and loud [laughs]. You can put ‘Ramy’ in a dramedy category and you could, to an extent, put ‘Mo’ there, but here it’s really bursting open in a medium with no limits. Then Pam’s name came up and it was a no-brainer.”
Brady collaborated with Trey Parker and Matt Stone on “South Park” from the show’s start, going on to cowrite with them the film “Team America: World Police” and cocreating the Netflix comedy series “Lady Dynamite.” “As soon as I saw ‘Ramy’ and I saw his stand-up, I was a fan,” said Brady. “I kept begging my manager: ‘Please, can I meet Ramy?’ So I came at it honestly as a fan, knowing that this guy’s doing some next-level stuff. I keep joking with my friends that Ramy’s a real writer. He explores characters. That’s why this experience has been so amazing because it’s pushed me. It’s like, ‘Oh, this is how you do it.’”
Mona Chalabi, Ramy Youssef and Pam Brady are the creative forces behind “#1 Happy Family USA.”
(Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
Illustrator and executive producer Mona Chalabi designed the characters, each harkening back to animation styles of the late ’90s and early 2000s shows like “Futurama” or “Daria.”
“I wanted it to feel like a found tape,” said Youssef. “You pop it in and it looks like it could have been on Comedy Central or MTV [back then]. It’s hand-drawn animation and we made it with an animation studio in Malaysia [called Animasia]. It’s an all-Muslim animation house, which is so crazy. They were so happy to draw hijabs and all these characters. They were like, ‘We relate to it!’ But we even downgraded our computers here in order to make it like it would have been made. Whatever we did took a while and it was like the opposite of AI.”
Adds Brady, “We wanted to make sure, especially with the visuals and the direction and the pacing, that the show felt familiar. That you’d seen a show like this before. We didn’t want to reinvent the form, but we also didn’t want to make it look like ‘Family Guy.’ So it’s like, ‘Oh, this show existed in 1998. You remember it, right?’”
Though the show takes place some 25 years ago, it’s not hard to see the plot’s resonance today in the wake of the deportations and roundups of immigrants and students. The Husseins are up against a wave of Islamophobia, triggered by the 9/11 attacks. They embody the very real fear of being profiled by the outside world, including FBI agent Dan Daniels (voiced by Timothy Olyphant), who happens to live across the street. A dark period, to be sure, but also one rich in comedic value if you’re willing to go there as “#1 Happy Family USA” does. Its characters break out into song while on the verge of being swept up by Homeland Security, or inadvertently cause a widespread panic by dropping on the carpet at the airport to pray when they learn of the terror attacks.
“We were trying to kind of create this time capsule, like around the old DHS of this moment,” said Youssef. “But right now is a time when an immigrant family, and surely a Muslim family, would feel the need to shout, ‘We’re No. 1! Happy Family USA!’ Pam and Mona and I have all been looking at each other with like, ‘Whoa.’ Of all the times this thing could have dropped, it’s dropping right now, when [it’s hard] to joke about this stuff in any other medium.”
At a time when everything feels like a cruel joke, “#1 Happy Family USA” bites back with the satire we need.
Howdy, I’m your host, Houston Mitchell. Let’s get right to the news.
Newsletter
Go beyond the scoreboard
Get the latest on L.A.’s teams in the daily Sports Report newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
From Dan Woike: On the night Luka Doncic returned to Dallas, the Mavericks condensed his American basketball career into an emotion-filled two minutes full of game-winners, highlight passes and trick shots that helped connect the Slovenian star to the Texas city.
As Doncic watched the footage, occasionally hiding his eyes behind a white tear-filled towel, one moment in particular stood out as most special.
It was Game 2 of the 2024 Western Conference finals, his team down by two points, the final seconds ticking off the clock. Rudy Gobert, the league’s four-time defensive player of the year, stood out at the three-point line attempting to stop the inevitable from happening.
Doncic, in one of the biggest moments of his career, moved Gobert to the left, to the right and then back toward the paint, opening a window for Doncic to make the big shot in the big moment.
He celebrated with a scream, joy and anger combining for uncontainable passion and an image that’ll define Doncic.
“I like big games,” Doncic said with a half-smirk on Thursday. “Playoffs is a fun time.”
All Times Pacific Play-in round Friday Miami at Atlanta, 4 p.m., TNT winner advances to playoffs as East No. 8 seed
Dallas at Memphis, 6:30 p.m., ESPN winner advances to playoffs as West No. 8 seed
First round Western Conference
No. 3 Lakers vs. No. 6 Minnesota Saturday at Lakers, 5:30 p.m., ABC Tuesday at Lakers, 7 p.m., TNT Friday at Timberwolves, 6:30 p.m., ESPN Sunday, April 27 at Timberwolves, 12:30 p.m., ABC Wed., April 30 at Lakers, TBD* Friday, May 2 at Timberwolves, TBD* Sunday, May 4 at Lakers, TBD*
No. 4 Denver vs. No. 5 Clippers Saturday at Nuggets, 12:30 p.m., ESPN Monday at Nuggets, 7 p.m., TNT Thursday at Clippers, 7 p.m., NBA TV Saturday, April 26 at Clippers, 3 p.m., TNT Tuesday, April 29 at Nuggets, TBD* Thursday, May 1 at Clippers, TBD* Saturday, May 3 at Nuggets, TBD*
No. 1 Oklahoma City vs. No. 8 TBD Sunday at Thunder, 10 a.m., ABC Tuesday at Thunder, 4:30 p.m., TNT Thursday at TBD, 6:30 p.m., TNT Saturday, April 26 at TBD, 12:30 p.m., TNT Monday, April 28 at Thunder, TBD* Thursday, May 1 at TBD, TBD* Saturday, May 3 at Thunder, TBD*
No. 2 Houston vs. No. 7 Golden State Sunday at Rockets, 6:30 p.m., TNT Wednesday at Rockets, 6:30 p.m., TNT Saturday, April 26 at Warriors, 5:30 p.m., ABC Monday, April 28 at Warriors, 7 p.m., TNT Wednesday, April 30 at Rockets, TBD* Friday, May 2 at Warriors, TBD* Sunday, May 4 at Rockets, TBD*
Eastern Conference No. 1 Cleveland vs. No. 8 TBD Sunday at Cavaliers, 4 p.m., TNT Wednesday at Cavaliers, 4:30 p.m., NBA TV Saturday, April 26 at TBD, 10 a.m., TNT Monday, April 28 at TBD, TBD Wednesday, April 30 at Cavaliers, TBD* Friday, May 2 at TBD, TBD* Sunday, May 4 at Cavaliers, TBD*
No. 2 Boston vs. No. 7 Orlando Sunday at Celtics, 12:30 p.m., ABC Wednesday at Celtics, 4 p.m., TNT Friday at Magic, 4 p.m., ESPN Sunday, April 27 at Magic, 4 p.m., TNT Tuesday, April 29 at Celtics, TBD* Thursday, May 1 at Magic, TBD* Saturday, May 3 at Celtics, TBD*
No. 3 New York vs. No. 6 Detroit Saturday at Knicks, 3 p.m., ESPN Monday at Knicks, 4:30 p.m., TNT Thursday at Pistons, 4 p.m., TNT Sunday, April 27 at Pistons, 10 a.m., ABC Tuesday, April 29 at Knicks, TBD* Thursday, May 1 at Pistons, TBD* Saturday, May 3 at Knicks, TBD*
No. 4 Indiana vs. No. 5 Milwaukee Saturday at Pacers, 10 a.m., ESPN Tuesday at Pacers, 4 p.m., NBA TV Friday at Bucks, 5 p.m., ESPNU/NBA TV Sunday, April 27 at Bucks, 6:30 p.m., TNT Tuesday, April 29 at Pacers, TBD* Friday, May 2 at Bucks, TBD* Sunday, May 4 at Pacers, TBD*
* if necessary
DODGERS
From Jack Harris: Shohei Ohtani is not publicly known, nor personally sees himself, as a quick starter at the plate.
“Overall, in my career,” he said through interpreter Will Ireton, “I don’t really have a hot start in the beginning of the season.”
This year, that’s technically true again — but only if you hold the reigning National League MVP to his own stratospheric standards.
Through the opening three weeks, all of Ohtani’s triple-slash stats are down from last year (.288/.380/.550), but only because his 2024 marks (.310/.390/.646) all topped the NL. Same story with a .930 OPS that is more than 100 points lower than his gaudy 2024 total, but still good enough to rank top 20 in the majors.
With six home runs and five stolen bases, Ohtani isn’t quite on mathematical pace for another 50-homer, 50-steal season; but is on an early track to become the first player in MLB history with multiple 40/40 campaigns.
The only true area of regression so far has been in one statistical category; where a glaring drop in production has signaled a key early-season problem for the team.
After racking up 130 RBIs in 159 games last year, Ohtani has just eight in this season’s opening 20 contests. Seven of them have come via his six home runs (all but one of which were solo shots). Not until Wednesday, when he returned to the plate in a seven-run first inning and knocked in Austin Barnes with an RBI single, did he record his first hit with a runner in scoring position.
“Shohei’s in a good spot,” manager Dave Roberts said recently. “We just need to get some guys on base for him.”
Kumar Rocker struck out a career-best eight in a career-long seven innings to earn his first MLB victory as the Texas Rangers beat the Angels 5-3 Thursday night to complete a three-game series sweep.
Rocker (1-2) threw a career-high 78 pitches and allowed three runs on five hits without a walk as the Rangers extended their home winning streak to nine games. The 25-year-old right-hander was drafted third overall by Texas in 2022, a year after concerns over a physical led to him going unsigned by the New York Mets as the 10th overall pick. He made his big league debut in September and was 0-2 last season.
Corey Seager hit his 100th homer with Texas. Robert Garcia earned his first major league save.
The Angels lost their fourth straight game and scored four runs in the series. They head home having played 15 of their first 18 games on the road, matching a MLB high, most recently done by 1957 Chicago Cubs.
From Kevin Baxter: The Kings were playing for history Thursday and the Calgary Flames were playing for pride. Pride won, with Nazem Kadri scoring twice and and Sam Morton, Zayne Parekh and Mikael Backlund also scoring to give the Flames a 5-1 win in the final game of the NHL regular season.
Taylor Ward, making his NHL debut, got the only Kings goal late in the third period, long after the outcome had been decided. The goals by Morton and Parekh also came in their first NHL games.
The loss, the Kings’ first in five games, left them with 48 wins and 105 points for the season, matching the team record in both categories.
Still, the Kings will enter their first-round playoff series with the Edmonton Oilers on Monday as the hottest team in the Western Conference, having won eight of their last 10. Game 2 of the best-of-seven series will be played in Los Angeles on Wednesday before the series moves to Edmonton for Games 3 and 4.
Western Conference Pacific 3 Edmonton vs. Pacific 2 Kings Monday at Kings, 7 p.m., ESPN2 Wednesday at Kings, 7 p.m., TBS Friday at Oilers, 7 p.m., TNT Sunday, April 27 at Oilers, 6:30 p.m., TBS Tuesday, April 29 at Kings, TBD* Thursday, May 1 at Oilers, TBD* Saturday, May 3 at Kings, TBD*
Wild-card 2 St. Louis vs. Central 1 Winnipeg Saturday at Jets, 3 p.m., TNT Monday at Jets, 4:30 p.m., ESPN2 Thursday at Blues, 6:30 p.m., ESPN2 Sunday, April 27 at Blues, 10 a.m., TBS Wed., April 30 at Jets, TBD* Friday, May 2 at Blues, TBD* Sunday, May 4 at Jets, TBD*
Central 3 Colorado vs. Central 2 Dallas Saturday at Stars, 5:30 p.m., TNT Monday at Stars, 6:30 p.m., ESPN Wednesday at Avalanche, 6:30 p.m., ESPN Saturday, April 26 at Avalanche, 6:30 p.m., TBS Monday, April 28 at Stars, TBD* Thursday, May 1 at Avalanche, TBD* Saturday, May 3 at Stars, TBD*
Wild-card 1 Minnesota vs. Pacific 1 Vegas Sunday at Golden Knights, 7 p.m., ESPN Tuesday at Golden Knights, 8 p.m., ESPN Thursday at Wild, 6 p.m., TBS Saturday, April 26 at Wild, 1 p.m., TBS Tuesday, April 29 at Golden Knights, TBD* Thursday, May 1 at Wild, TBD* Saturday, May 3 at Golden Knights, TBD*
Eastern Conference Wild-card 2 Ottawa vs. Atlantic 1 Toronto Sunday at Maple Leafs, 4 p.m., ESPN2 Tuesday at Maple Leafs, 4:30 p.m., ESPN2 Thursday at Senators, 4 p.m., ESPN2 Saturday, April 26 at Senators, 4 p.m., TBS Tuesday, April 29 at Maple Leafs, TBD* Thursday, May 1 at Senators, TBD* Saturday, May 3 at Maple Leafs, TBD*
Atlantic 3 Florida vs. Atlantic 2 Tampa Bay Tuesday at Lightning, 5:30 p.m., ESPN Thursday at Lightning, 3:30 p.m., TBS Saturday, April 26 at Panthers, 10 a.m., TBS Monday, April 28 at Panthers, TBD Wed., April 30 at Lightning, TBD* Friday, May 2 at Panthers, TBD* Sunday, May 4 at Lightning, TBD*
Wild-card 2 Montreal vs. Metropolitan 1 Washington Monday at Capitals, 4 p.m., ESPN Wednesday at Capitals, 4 p.m., ESPN Friday at Canadiens, 4 p.m., TNT Sunday, April 27 at Canadiens, 3:30 p.m., TBS Wed., April 30 at Capitals, TBD* Friday, May 2 at Canadiens, TBD* Sunday, May 4 at at Capitals, TBD*
Metropolitan 3 New Jersey vs. Metropolitan 2 Carolina Sunday at Hurricanes, noon, ESPN Tuesday at Hurricanes, p.m., ESPN Friday at Devils, 5 p.m., TBS Sunday, April 27 at Devils, 12:30 p.m., TBS Tuesday, April 29 at Hurricanes, TBD* Friday, May 2 at Devils, TBD* Sunday, May 4 at Hurricanes, TBD*
But for the first time in five years, coach Sean McVay and general manager Les Snead will not make their picks from a luxury home transformed into a Rams-centric draft house.
The facility will remain fully operational during the draft, the team said.
“Drafting from LAFD Air Operations is a powerful reminder of what it means to represent Los Angeles,” Rams president Kevin Demoff said in a statement. “Since the wildfires devastated our region in January, we have looked to bring LA Together to help with the recovery efforts, raise the spirits of those impacted, and shine a light on our first responders. We are humbled to partner with LAFD during one of the NFL’s biggest moments to express gratitude for those who risk their lives daily to protect our city.”
When it mattered most, the Olympic gold medalist delivered at the NCAA semifinals in Fort Worth, Texas, on Thursday night. She posted a score of 9.975 on the uneven bars to put her in position to win another title in the event as No. 5 UCLA held first heading into the final rotation, with less than two-tenths of a point separating four teams.
Needing their beam routines to connect after Emily Lee posted a sub-9.70 score, the Bruins went to work. Led by senior Emma Malabuyo’s meet-high 9.975 beam score, UCLA outpaced top-seeded Louisiana State to secure the fourth and final spot in the NCAA championship final, finishing with an overall score of 197.5250.
Barker was an eighth-grader when she was diagnosed with osteochondritis dissecans, a condition that disrupts blood flow to a bone beneath joint cartilage, causing pain and limiting mobility.
The condition in her left knee required surgery at the Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center in Birmingham, Ala. Doctors gave her a recovery timeline of nearly a year; but two months later, she received news that the procedure had been unsuccessful.
To keep her basketball dreams alive, she would need a more invasive surgery, one that would last more than four hours.
On Monday, Barker became the first of three draft picks in the new chapter of Sparks basketball under coach Lynne Roberts. A standout wing at Alabama, she was selected ninth overall after establishing herself as one of the Southeastern Conference’s best players.
Straus will join the club on June 1, when his season in Germany ends. Straus, who joined Bayern in 2022, has led the team to a 54-2-7 record and can win his third straight Frauen-Bundesliga title with a win over Freiburg next weekend. He has also taken Bayern to the quarterfinals of the Champions League.
Last year Straus, 49, signed a two-year contract extension with Bayern Munich that was set to run through 2026. Before coming to Germany he coached for five clubs and with the youth national teams in his native Norway, working with both men and women players.
1908 — Tommy Burns knocks out Jewey Smith in the fifth round in Paris to retain the world heavyweight title.
1942 — Stanley Cup Final, Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, ON: Toronto Maple Leafs beat Detroit Red Wings, 3-1 for a 4-3 series win.
1946 — Jackie Robinson debuts as 2nd baseman for the Montreal Royals.
1959 — The Montreal Canadiens win their fourth consecutive Stanley Cup with a 5-3 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs in the fifth game.
1962 — Boston’s Bill Russell scores 30 points and grabs 40 rebounds to lead the Celtics to a 110-107 overtime win over the Lakers and their fourth consecutive NBA title. Russell’s 40-rebound effort matches his NBA Finals record set on March 29, 1960.
1966 — Bill Russell is named the coach of the Boston Celtics to become the first Black head coach of an NBA team.
1967 — Rick Barry scores 55 points as the San Francisco Warriors beat Philadelphia, 130-124, in Game 3 of the NBA Finals.
1984 — Joan Benoit runs world record female marathon.
1986 — Washington ends the game on a 18-0 run in the last 3 minutes, 49 seconds and wins it on a banked Dudley Bradley 3-pointer at the horn. The 76ers had a seemingly safe 94-77 lead, but do not score in the 3:39 in the opening game of the first-round of the NBA playoffs.
1987 — Philadelphia’s Mike Schmidt hits his 500th home run with two outs in the ninth to rally the Phillies to an 8-6 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates at Three Rivers Stadium.
1991 — John Stockton breaks his own NBA single-season assist record as the Utah Jazz rout the Seattle SuperSonics 130-103. Stockton’s 11 assists give him 1,136 for the season, two more than the record he set last season.
1993 — PGA Seniors’ Championship Men’s Golf, PGA National GC: American Tom Wargo pars second playoff hole to beat Bruce Crampton of Australia and take his first and only major title.
1995 — Quarterback Joe Montana announces his retirement from football.
1998 — NFL Draft: Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning first pick by Indianapolis Colts.
1999 — Wayne Gretzky ends his NHL career at Madison Square Garden with an assist, setting up a second-period goal as his New York Rangers fall to Pittsburgh 2-1 in overtime. Before the game, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announces the league is retiring No. 99 in honor of “The Great One.”
2001 — A.C. Green plays in his 1,192nd consecutive game, which remains the NBA record. His streak began on November 19, 1986.
2007 — Mark Buehrle of the Chicago White Sox faces the minimum 27 batters in a 6-0 no-hit victory over the Texas Rangers. Buehrle walks Sammy Sosa with one out in the fifth, then promptly picks him off first base.
2008 — NBA owners give approval of a potential Seattle SuperSonics’ relocation to Oklahoma City in a 28–2 vote by the Board of Governors.
2017 — Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo becomes first player to score 100 goals in the Champions League.
Compiled by the Associated Press
Until next time…
That concludes today’s newsletter. If you have any feedback, ideas for improvement or things you’d like to see, email me at [email protected], and follow me on Twitter at @latimeshouston. To get this newsletter in your inbox, click here.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the US will decide in the coming days whether to continue to push for a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, or to walk away. The Trump administration had made ending the war a priority, but talks have stalled.
United boss Ruben Amorim says he will trust the “kids” to guide the club through the remainder of the Premier League season in order to rest some of his senior players for Europe.
United will face Spanish side Athletic Bilbao in the semi-finals, after their 2-0 aggregate win against Rangers.
The competition is now United’s main focus, despite having six matches to play in the remainder of a Premier League campaign which sees the 20-time champions of England floundering in 14th.
The United boss noted Portuguese duo Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot were both suffering from fatigue as Thursday’s epic encounter drew to a close.
It means 17-year-old striker Chido Obi, who is not registered to play in Europe, is likely to play some part against Wolves at Old Trafford on Sunday.
The same is also true of full-back Harry Amass, who came on for Patrick Dorgu for the final 20 minutes against Lyon, defenders Jaydan Kamason and Godwill Kukonki and midfielder Jack Moorhouse, who were all on the bench.
Striker Gabriel Biancheri has been on the fringes of the first team, as have Darren Fletcher’s twin sons Jack and Tyler Fletcher.
If former Arsenal defender Ayden Heaven has recovered from the setback he suffered as he closed on full fitness after a recent ankle injury, he will be involved too given how much the 18-year-old impressed in his four first-team outings before last month’s international break.
“It is not the best moment or the best season to put kids in because they need a strong base to really show what they can do,” said Amorim.
“But in this moment you need to do it and sometimes you have some surprises.
“I can be honest, Ayden [Heaven] just played because we had a lot of injuries in that moment. But today I think of him as my player. When he is ready he is facing the competition in the team because he is ready to play.
“You don’t know. Amass did really well today. Chido when he played, did quite well. It is a difficult moment and not the right moment for the kids to play. But if we have to do it, we will.”
It is not known yet whether senior defenders Noussair Mazraoui or Victor Lindelof will be involved against Wolves.
Mazraoui was taken off at half-time and Lindelof had a planned substitute appearance scrapped after they were alerted independently to medical issues at home.
“It was the same for both,” he said.
“Sometimes you don’t control these things but everything is OK now. I know football is really important but there are things that are more important. They will be ready to play the next game.”
JoJo Siwa had stern words to say to her Celebrity Big Brother housemate Chris Hughes as he pestered her for cuddles in bed amid their close bond with each other
12:19, 18 Apr 2025Updated 12:19, 18 Apr 2025
Chris Hughes was seen begging JoJo Siwa to get into his bed in an unseen moment in the Celebrity Big Brother house. The Love Island star, 32, has struck up a very close bond with JoJo, 21, which has often left fans baffled.
Viewers have watched the pair become closer each day in the house as things started to ramp up with the pair sharing cuddles in bed and touchy dance routines. While many are certain they are just best pals due to JoJo’s sexuality and her being in a relationship, some think there is more going on.
Their antics continued during last night’s livestream following the ITV show. In the unseen moment, Chris headed over to JoJo’s bed which is next to his and took his top off. He flexed his muscles in the mirror above the beds, which woke JoJo up. She exclaimed: “Oh my god.”
Chris woke JoJo up to see if she wanted to cuddle(Image: ITV)
She asked him: “Are you going to sleep?,” to which he responded: “You wanted me to get in and cuddle for just a minute. Don’t even say you didn’t.”
JoJo told him she thought he was going outside as Chris said: “If you want me to get in for a quick cuddle that’s fine.” However, JoJo insisted: “I’m good.” Chris didn’t back down as he continued: “Yeah but you asked me to. That’s what you said.”
They had a back and forth about their miscommunication, while admitting they’d “had a good day”. JoJo asked: “Are you actually going to sleep? I thought you were going back outside?”
Chris replied: “Come here then,” but JoJo continued: “That’s not what I am saying. I asked are you going back outside?” Chris didn’t answer her question as he asked her again if she wanted to join him in his bed.
JoJo said no again, but Chris asked another time. The Dance Moms star sat up in bed and asked: “Did I say ‘are you not going to come cuddle’ or did I say ‘are you going to bed’?”
Chris told her: “No you didn’t. Your way of saying ‘I want a cuddle’ is ‘are we going to bed’. You are laughing because you know it’s true.” JoJo began to explain her side as he told her: “Let me speak,” before huffing.
The pair have struck up a very close bond(Image: ITV)
He started repeatedly saying “phycology” before JoJo hit back: “Study your own phycology,” and she rolled over away from Chris. The reality TV star quipped: “That’ll last long,” as he sat up and watched JoJo turn her back to him.
Chris started laughing and eventually told JoJo: “Stop sulking.” JoJo said: “Yes ma’am. I rotate every night. You miss me?” He said: “You never sleep that way. You never ever lie that way,” before laughing again.
“The silence is cold,” he said before stating: “I am a funny guy though.” JoJo agreed as she said: “You are. I will give it to you, you make me laugh.” She then did move over to Chris’ bed for a cuddle.
Viewers were divided by the exchange as one said: “She was doing the same the other night. They are friends. Needing comfort from each other..that’s all. But let’s not make out it’s one sided.” Another added: “Y’all are always pretending it’s one-sided because you’re just scared of Jojo being labeled a cheater lol.”
Someone else commented: “No this is creepy he should stop.” A fourth wrote: “Why are y’all acting like it’s one-sided….. Jojo could come over and cuddle Chris ten times but the only thing you’ll post is the one time Chris initiates it.”
Students and staff at college campuses across the US are angry at what they say is an assault by the White House on academic freedoms. Hundreds rallied in New York to protest the Trump administration’s policies. Gabriel Elizondo was there.
